Written By
Daren LowUpdated On
June 28, 2024
Many of us have come to rely on a VPN when using the internet. Privacy and protection aside, they’re also the key to getting around various online limitations such as geo-blocking.
The bad news? It is possible for your VPN connection may be blocked by your ISP, the government, organizations, or even websites.
Luckily, by understanding how VPNs work, you can select a reliable and highly rated VPN and avoid these blocks. So, if you’re curious to learn how to make your VPN connection virtually undetectable, keep on reading!
What Is A VPN Blocker?
In short, a VPN blocker is used by someone to stop you from accessing VPN tunnels.
VPNs can hide your browsing history and encrypt your data, which gives you online privacy and anonymity. But because of this, some businesses or even the government would like to ban the use of VPNs.
This sort of VPN blocking can prevent you from accessing certain websites or geographical location restrictions. Alternatively, organizations or schools may prohibit the use of VPNs in order to prevent users from accessing specific sites on their networks.
The following are the most common ways to block VPNs:
- IP blocking When the entire list of VPN-connected IP addresses is blocked on the network.
- Port blocking When the firewall blocks specific VPN ports.
- Deep Packet Inspection (DPI) It examines the data packets traveling through the device’s connection traffic. The goal is to identify any VPN connections being used and to block them.
Why Are VPNs Blocked In The First Place?
A lot of websites block VPNs as a result of workplace or educational policies, censorship imposed by the government, or the discovery of copyright violations. Here are some typical reasons why VPNs are blocked.
1. Protecting intellectual property
In order to prevent users from accessing geographically restricted content, websites and streaming services can block VPNs. This is often done in order to secure intellectual property rights, including copyrighted content. For example, Netflix can limit access to specific content if it discovers you’re using a VPN to view it from a location where it is not permitted.
Similarly, some websites can restrict access from well-known VPN IP addresses to stop unauthorized activity or misuse of their services.
This is due to the fact that websites and streaming services often enter into agreements with content producers that regulate access to certain content in particular geographic areas. These contracts could be influenced by factors like licensing and distribution rights. So, streaming services and websites can uphold these agreements and keep users from viewing content they aren’t allowed to see by blocking VPNs.
2. Enforced censorship by the government
Governments in certain nations have tight restrictions on what their residents can access online. This means limiting access to particular websites, social media networks, or messaging services and keeping an eye on online activities. These actions may be taken by governments to suppress political opposition or to stop the spread of opposing opinions.
Because VPNs can be used to get around these limitations, restrictive and nosy governments often target them. For instance, the “Great Firewall” is used by the Chinese government to restrict access to international websites and social media platforms. Yet, a lot of Chinese nationals use VPNs to connect to these websites and contact people abroad. Because of this, the government has taken action to hinder VPN services and as well as punish users.
3. Protecting against cyberattacks
To lessen the risk of unwanted access to networks, blocking VPNs can be one of the main ways to do this. VPNs can be used to get around safety barriers like firewalls and content filters, making it simpler for hackers to access private data.
So, in order to prevent employees from using unsafe networks to access company resources, some businesses can limit VPNs. For instance, if an employee connects to the company network using a VPN while using a public Wi-Fi hotspot, this could lead to a vulnerability that hackers could take advantage of.
How To Bypass VPN Blocks
It’s usually easy to tell when a website blocks your connection because you’re using a VPN, as most websites that use anti-VPN tactics will notify you if they see VPN traffic.
However, figuring out the method a website or service uses to block your VPN connection is somewhat more challenging. You can’t rely on just one method to get around the VPN block because you aren’t aware of their method.
As a result, selecting the best approach will require some trial and error. Below are some of the ways you can bypass VPN blocks:
- Obfuscated servers Traffic obfuscation refers to disguising the usage of a VPN. This enables unrestricted access to websites and platforms by deceiving them into thinking that you’re actually in a nation where their content is legal.
- Dedicated IP address Sharing an IP address is great for increased user privacy since it’ll be hard to detect who you are. Unfortunately, it has the side effect of getting you blocked by different websites. For instance, if someone who’s also using the same IP address as you does something shady or any illegal activity, the shared IP address could have a bad reputation, which could lead to it being blocked. Luckily, since you don’t have to share your dedicated IP address with anyone else, using one can help you get around VPN blocking.
- Switch servers When a website suspects a user is using a VPN to bypass restrictions, it will typically block that user’s IP address. But, note that only one of the VPN’s IP addresses is blocked, rather than the entire VPN. Since your IP address changes when a server is changed, switching servers will allow you to regain access to the website.
- Changing protocols or port The website you’re attempting to access via your VPN may use traffic detection methods or port blocking, in which case your access has been restricted. The best course of action, in this case, is to go to the settings tab of your VPN and quickly switch to a different protocol and port.
- Mobile data These limitations only apply to Wi-Fi. If all you’re trying to do is get around VPN blocks placed by your ISP, your school, or your place of employment then using mobile data or turning your phone into a hotspot to access these blocked websites may be a smart move. But, you should also keep in mind that if you want to get around restrictions put in place by the government, using mobile data won’t be able to help.
- Using VPNs that can’t be blocked You’ll find in the next section that there are some VPNs that are more difficult to block.
The Best VPNs For Circumventing VPN Blocks
Blocking VPNs is a common practice, so don’t panic if you can’t access a website or service while using a VPN. What matters is whether your VPN provides alternatives that’ll allow you to regain access to the website or service.
A VPN must be equipped with a broad selection of servers, protocols, and the capacity to get around limitations in order to serve this function. The following are some of the best VPNs for bypassing VPN blocks:
- NordVPN Every feature that could improve the user experience is something that NordVPN tries to satisfy. Tor-over-VPN and CyberSec functions for security, as well as double VPN service for data encryption, are a few examples. Plus, they also have obfuscated servers or dedicated IP addresses that can be used to bypass VPN blocks. Overall, NordVPN is an excellent all-rounder for all of your internet needs.
- ExpressVPN One of the most dependable VPNs available today, ExpressVPN, can get around even the strictest VPN blocks. You can experience an unrestricted online experience thanks to the VPN’s regular rotational IP addresses.
- Surfshark SurfShark, a relatively new VPN, enables you to browse the internet without any limitations. Aside from stealthy and secure obfuscated servers, SurfShark also has several other features that help bypass VPN blocks such as Whitelister, Camouflage Mode, and NoBorders Mode.
Never Worry About VPN Blocking Again
VPN blocking is a method used to limit your access to specific online content by organizations such as workplaces, schools, websites, ISPs, local networks, and even entire countries. Luckily, you can browse anonymously if you use a VPN that has lots of security and privacy features.
You can then easily, privately, and from any location, access the websites and content you want.
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